Dengvaxia - First approval of a vaccine for Dengue

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Though, chikingunya does not have a potentially fatal variant like dengue does it?

here it can be, as our dengue is not the deadly version. chikingunya morbidity and mortality ratings i am uncertain of, but here it is considered as dangerous as dengue.

[barnakiel]

Chikungunya is fatal about as much as ordinary flu - mostly kids and people older than 60 die. Also a few of the in between generation - whenever the body is not capable of dealing with the infection.

Same thing with dengue - if you are strong, you make it to the other end and get a more or less nasty experience to tell.

From our personal experience, I can tell if you can avoid chikungunya - avoid it. Arthritic changes last very long (over a year in our case) and in some cases turn chronic.

b.

[JPA Cate]

Barnakiel, it is actually pretty easy to avoid malaria while cruising. Anchoring at least 200 ft. offshore is a big help. Not going ashore after 4 in the afternoon. Clothes for shoregoing washed in pyrethrins first, and then kept for that purpose, having long sleeves. Then DEET on exposed portions of skin for the duration. Kept us safe in the Solomons. Can also use coils and zappers below and abovedecks. Screens mandatory, spray the outside of them with surface spray to deter sandflies.

FYI, in Oz, there is Ross River Fever, yet another mosquito borne, flu like disease with severe arthritic sequelae.

Ann

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Barnakiel, it is actually pretty easy to avoid malaria while cruising. Anchoring at least 200 ft. offshore is a big help. Not going ashore after 4 in the afternoon. Clothes for shoregoing washed in pyrethrins first, and then kept for that purpose, having long sleeves. Then DEET on exposed portions of skin for the duration. Kept us safe in the Solomons. Can also use coils and zappers below and abovedecks. Screens mandatory, spray the outside of them with surface spray to deter sandflies.

FYI, in Oz, there is Ross River Fever, yet another mosquito borne, flu like disease with severe arthritic sequelae.

Ann

Yep. I know. Not cruising where malaria is another good method. Rich countries like France simply spray the affected areas and that's that. Gods bless the Republic.

We will see how good the vaccine is - after all it is all a virus thing and the favourite thing every virus does after lunch is to mutate.

But I am overall happy that there is another option to try and protect us from the nasties.

Big hug,
b.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Chikungunya is fatal about as much as ordinary flu - mostly kids and people older than 60 die. Also a few of the in between generation - whenever the body is not capable of dealing with the infection.

Same thing with dengue - if you are strong, you make it to the other end and get a more or less nasty experience to tell.

From our personal experience, I can tell if you can avoid chikungunya - avoid it. Arthritic changes last very long (over a year in our case) and in some cases turn chronic.

b.

Dont know about Chikungunya, but there are actually two strains of dengue, common and hemoragic. The hemoragic variety can kill you regardless of age and health, but it is fortunately a small percentage of the cases.

[barnakiel]

Yep. Seems Dengue and Chikungunya give similar symptoms. The differences being severe rash and arthritis you get with Chikungunya.

Reading about all this stuff on the web makes one dizzy without even going into tropics proper.

Yesterday I killed a couple of tigers without even going to Africa - they all came blown by African wind, over 40 miles of open water. We are in the Canaries.

Madeira had Dengue outbreak some time ago but the EU wiped the whole thing under the carpet.

b.

[mikereed100]

This vaccine could represent a big step forward, with some caveats. Interestingly, it seems to be more effective in those who have already contracted dengue. Here is the New England Journal of Medicine's take on it:

MMS: Error

It appears to be approved for ages 9 and above and, while I've not seen any age restrictions on administration, it is a live, attenuated vaccine, so those with weakened immune systems should avoid it.

Dengue is a viral illness caused by any one of 4 serotypes. The vector is the Aedes aegyptus mosquito which, unlike the Anopheles mosquito, bites during the day and has an affinity for humans and human habitation, so one must be very careful to avoid bites at any time of day, particularly in urban areas. Up to 80% of infections are non-symptomatic, meaning you have it but don't know it. The majority of the symptomatic infections are mild and referred to as “dengue fever” with the more serious and uncommon 'dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) causing most morbidity and mortality. DHF is most commonly caused by re-infection by a second serotype after an earlier infection, thus tends to occur among people spending a lot of time in a “hyperendemic” area where all 4 serotypes can be found.

The 'take home' is don't get bit by mosquitos, wherever you are and whatever time off day. Cover up and don't be shy with the DEET. Don't bother with Skin so Soft and the like because, despite what the sailing magazine says, they don't work. If you are in an endemic area and you experience severe abdominal pain or tenderness, persistent vomiting, lethargy or restlessness, abrupt change from fever to hypothermia, bleeding, pallor, cold/clammy extremities, liver enlargement on physical exam, or abnormal mental status, get yourself to a hospital.